The LSU athletics community mourned the loss of a former player Thursday after the university announced that former women’s basketball star Danielle Ballard had died after being struck by a car in Tennessee.
She was 29 years old.
Memphis police responded to a call about a pedestrian hit by a car at 1:26 a.m. Central time on Thursday morning, and the victim was then taken to Regional One Hospital, where she was pronounced dead, according to ABC24.?
Police later identified Ballard as the victim.
The driver, who has not been identified by authorities, remained at the scene.
The accident is now under investigation.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Danielle,” the university said in a statement. “She meant a great deal to our program and was such a big part of our women’s basketball family. It’s difficult to understand why this happened to someone who was so full of life and had so much promise. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends.”
Ballard played three years at LSU and earned first-team All-SEC honors in 2015.
She also was an SEC All-Freshman selection in 2013 and was named to the SEC All-Defensive Team twice during her time in Baton Rouge.
During Ballard’s sophomore year, she helped lead the LSU Lady Tigers to a Sweet 16 appearance while averaging 23.3 points and 12.3 rebounds in three NCAA Tournament games.
Ballard averaged 12.1 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists during her three years at LSU.
Those that knew Ballard took to social media to pay tribute to her.
“Danielle Ballard crossed one of my teammates up so bad when we played LSU. She was absolute problem in between those lines. May she RIP. Praying for the LSU family,” Kenia Cole, the assistant women’s basket ball coach at William & Mary, wrote on Twitter.
“I’m going to miss you Hollywood,” another twitter user wrote. “I really can’t even put into words how this feel. They’ll never mention Memphis girls/women’s basketball and not mention YOU.”
Ballard’s cousin, Rachal Nolen, spoke with ABC24 in Memphis and described how she knew that Ballard was destined to play basketball.
“Even before she really could walk, she was bouncing a full-sized basketball,” Nolen told the outlet. “[She was] always the life of a party. She loved kids; she really loved kids.”
“You would have to know Danielle; Danielle would hoop you up out of your birth certificate,” Nolen added. “Danielle was a hooping beast.”